A North Dakota bill that would have allowed the state to become a licensing jurisdiction for Internet poker was handily defeated in the state Senate today by a vote of 44-3.
The bill passed through the state's House or Representatives in February by a vote of 49-43. The success in the House prompted many I-gaming industry representatives to jump in to support the bill by providing testimony to the Senate committee overseeing the bill.
A fierce blow was given to the bill last week however in the form of a letter issued by the Department of Justice, stating that it believes the poker bill to be a violation of the federal Wire Act. The letter likely influenced the vote of many senators, despite the testimony from many in the industry who claim that the Wire Act applies only to sports betting.